Treating-table.



C. W. ALBRIGHT.

TREATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. I91]- RENEWED APR. 22. 1918.

1,286,166. Patented Nov. 26,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- C. W. ALBRIGHT.

TREATING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED Nov.15, 1911;

RENEWED APR- 8. I9L8.

Patented Nov. 26, I918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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C. W. ALBRIGHT.

TREATING TABLE. APPLICATION HLED Nov; 15. 1911.

RENEWED APR- B} 1918.

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UNITED STATE PATENT OFFIIEOE.

CHESTER W. ALBRIGI'IT, OF EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 JOHN V. MGMANIS, OF KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI.

TREATING-TABLE.

Application filed November 15, 1911, Serial No. 660,316. Renewed April 8, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER W. AL- BRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Treating-Tables, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention hasfor its object to produce a treating table which will enable a physician, without the use of swings or other appliances, to loosen and adjust the spines of patients in a simple and easy manner; produce any desired movement or combination of movements throughout the entire lumbar and dorsal regions of the spine; and to swing the spine of aged persons, fleshy individuals, cripples, rheumatics and others: all of the various manipulations being effected while the patients muscles are perfectly relaxed and without irritating the patients muscles, knees or other parts.

A further object of my invention is to produce a treating table which may be locked so as to form a rigid table.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a table arranged in accordance with a preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the table, showing a modified yieldable support for the hinged leaf; Fig. 1 is a section on line 14 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 illustrates a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a supporting base having an upright post 2 over which is slidably mounted a cylinder 3 which supports the leaves of the table. On the upper end of the member 3 is a horizontal flange 4 which may conveniently be made crescent-shaped as will be seen from Fig. 2. On this flange is supported the fixed or stationary leaf 5 of the table. On the side of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Serial No. 227,389.

the member 3 opposite to that on which the 'llange is placed is located an outwardly pro ecting member 6 having a vertical bore 7. A bracket 8 rests upon the member 6 with its upper surface flush with the flange 1. The bracket carries a shaft or journal 9 which extends down through the bearing 7 in the member 6 and serves to support the bracket in such a manner that it is free to swlng about a vertical axis. On the lower end of the shaft is a nut 10 or other suitable device for normally preventing the shaft from moving vertically. The bracket 8 serves to support the movable leaf of the table. I prefer to make the movable leaf of two parts 1.1 and 12 the part 11 lying next to the stationary leaf and the meeting edges of the stationary leaf and the leaf member 11 being curved into arcs of circles having their center at the ivotal axis of the movable leaf as indicatet at 13 and 14; thus avoidin an opening between the stationary leaf and the movable leaf when the latter is rotated. The leaf member 12 is hinged to the member 11 by any suitable hinge device 15 which will permit the member 12 to be swung up and down about a' horizontal axis independently of the member 11. The free end of the leaf member 12 must be supported in some manner and I prefer to make use of a supporting device which will permit this leaf member to be held in a horizontal position or at any desired angle above and below the horizon tal. I furthermore prefer to use a supporting means for the member 12 which will hold this member yieldingly and thus permit it to be moved up and down from a normal position either while the movable leaf as a whole remains stationary relative to its vertical axis of rotation or while the movable leaf is being rotated.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a pneumatic support for the leaf member 12: this consisting of a cylinder 16 pivoted at one end to an ear 17 on the bracket 8 and having a long hollow piston or plunger 18 which projects out beyond the other end and is there pivotally connected between a pair of arms 19 which project down from the underside of the leaf member 12 near its free end. The member 12 can be raised or lowered only by producing a relative movement movement between the cylinder and its piston. In the arrangement shown, air under pressure may be introduced into the oylinder in rear of the piston by means of a suitable pump 20 which is connected to one end of the cylinder by means of a flexible conduit 21. The piston is provided with a pet cock 22 through which the air in the cylinder may be allowed to escape. Furthermore, if desired, some device for preventing relative movement between the cylinder andits pistonunay be provided for the purpose of lockingthe leaf member 12 against swinging movement in the vertical direction. lln the arrangement shown there is an L-shaped member 23 which is connected at one end to the outer end of the piston and has its other arm projecting through a perforated ear or lug 24 on the cylinder. A set screw 25, carried by the ear or lug serves to clamp the adjacent arm of the member 23 firmly to the cylinder. Consequently the leaf member 12 may be rigidly locked against angular movements in the vertical direction so that it can only swing with its companion leaf member 11 about a vertical axis. Furthermore the swinging of the members 11 and 12 about a vertical axis may be prevented by means'of a set screw 26 carried by the supporting member 6 and adapted to engage with the downwardly projecting shaft or hearing member on the bracket 8. By locking the movable leaf members against angular movement in either the horizontal or the vertical direction a substantially rigid table top is obtained.

W hen it is desired to treat a patient by simplyv swinging the movable leaf members in the horizontal plane, the set screw 26 is loosened and the hinged leaf member 12 is either locked mechanically or is held in the desired adjusted position pneumatically.

It often happens that a compound movement is desired, namely a swinging move ment about a vertical axis and a simultaneous swinging movement about a horizontal axis. lln this case the piston is unlocked from the cylinder so as to permit it to move relative thereto and suilicient air is pumped into the cylinder to cause it to hold the leaf member 12 at an intermediate elevation, either above the horizontal or below the horizontal when the patient is lying on. the table. The two movable leaf members may then be swung from right to left and at the same time the member 12 may be slowly raised and lowered so that the resulting path of a point on the end of the member 12 is a circle, a figure eight or any other curved figure; only a slight lifting force being necessary to raise the leaf above its normal position and only a slight downward pressure being required for the purpose of depressing the leaf. 7

It will thus be seen that the leaves of the table may be locked so as to give a rigid top which may either be horizontal or have one end arranged at an angle either above or below the horizontal; the movable leaves may be locked at an angular movement about the vertical axis and the patient may be given a treatment requiring only a raising and lowering of the hinge member 12; the hinged leaf member may belocked in any adjusted position and the two movable leaf members may then be swung back and forth about the vertical axis; or finally,'the two movable leaf members may be left free so as to afford simultaneous movements both about the horizontal and vertical axes. Thus it will be seen that every movement and every condition which may be desired can be obtained.

On the free end of the hinged leaf 1ne1nber 12 may be placed a suitable longitudinally adjustable foot rest 27. At the opposite end of the table there may be placed an adjustable head rest 28, this being hinged to the end of the stationary leaf as at 29 so that it may be swung through an angle over 180 degrees from an upright position to a position in which it hangs beneath the table. F or supporting the head rest in any adjusted position it have provided abracket 30 extending downwardly from the table and carrying a hinged arm 31 which extends through a staple 32 or the like on the underside of the head rest. The underside of the arm is provided with a series of notches 33, any one of which is adapted to receive the staple and thus lock thehead rest at an inclination depending upon the notch which happens to be cooperating with the staple. A spring 34- is secured on'the underside of the head restand bearing on top of the arm 31 prevents accidental displacement of the arm.

I also prefer to make it possible to raise and lower the top of the table bodilv and it is for this reason that I have made use of the post 2 and the cylinder 3. As will best be seen in Fig. 3, the post is made hollow so as to serve as a reservoir for oil or other suitable liquid. .Within. the post is a cylinder 36 having at its lower end a reduced portion 37 which rests upon the bottom of the hollow post. Into the cylinder 36 extends a long plunger or piston 38 fastened at its upper end to the head 39'of the cylinder 3. Thus the cylinder 3 and the piston 38 are rigidly connected together and must move in unison with each other. 40 is a I'd-shaped pipe one leg of which extends 1 down through the piston 38 and communicates with the interior of the cylinder'36 while the other leg extends into the space between the cylinder 36 and the surrounding wall of the post 2. i1 is a valve arranged at the juncture of the two legs of the pipe and controlling communication between the main 130 height. table, the valve 41 in the pipe 40 is opened".

spring 47 surrounding the 'stemgserves tov lower the piston 44 when-pressure on the foot lever is released. Near the upper endof the reduced portion 37 of the cylinder 36 are a number of ports 48 which will permit oil or other liquid to fiow from the interior of the hollow post into the cylinder 37 whenever these ports are not coveredby the piston 44. Assuming that the hollow post is partially filled with the liquid and it is. desired to raise the top of the table: the foot lever is depressed so as to raise the piston 44 and, after the piston has reached the ports 48 and closed them, the liquid above the piston is forced up past the valve 42 and below the piston 38, thusraising the piston 38 slightly and, with it, raising the table top. When the pressure on the foot lever is released the piston 44 begins to descend and the check valve 42 closes so as to prevent the liquid from flowing back past the Valve. descended far enough to uncover the ports 48, more liquid flows into the cylinder" 37 and, by repeating the pressure on the foot lever, a further charge is introduced into the tionary leaf mounted on sald support, a

space below the piston 38 and the piston is raised another short step. In this way the table top may be raised to any desired When it is desired to lower the and the weight of the table forces the piston 38 down and forces the oil up out of the pipe 40 and back into the hollow post.

- Instead of the pneumatic support for the hinged leaf member 12 I may use a spring whose tension is adjustable so as to compensate for different weights in patients. I have shown such an arrangement in Fig. 3 and, referring to this figure, 50 is a yoke having the ends of its arms hinged to the underside of the leaf member 12 near its free end and 51 is a link pivotally connected at one end to the depending portion of the yoke as at 52 and at its other end to the lower end of the vertical bearing shaft 9, as indicated at 53. Extending from the ear 17 on the bracket 8 to the yoke at a point between the ends of the yoke is a strong spring 54.- VVhenever the' table leaf 12 is depressed the spring 54 is stretched and- In order to adjust the tension'of the spring When the piston 44 has I fasten its outer end to a screw-threaded rod 55 which passes through an opening in a block 56 journaled between the arms of the yoke 50, as indicated at 57, so that the block can swing about a horizontal axis. A hand wheel 58 screwed upon the member 55 and engaging with the block 56 maintains the spring under tension and permits the tension to be adjusted. If it is desired to lock the hinged leaf in any adjusted position, so as to' make it rigid, the spring 54 may be inclosed ina two-part casing, the members 59 and 60 of which are telescoped within each other. As the spring contracts and expands the two parts of the casing slide upon each other. Relative movement between the two parts of the casing, and therefore a stretching or contraction of the spring, may be prevented, by locking the two parts of the casing together, as by means of a set screw 61 which is screwed into the member 59 and engages with the member 60.

It will be seen that the arrangement just described permits the same movements to be obtained as that in which the support of the hinged leaf is pneumatic.

While I have illustrated and described in detail only a few preferred embodiments of my invention,I do not desire to be limited ;to the structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend covering all forms and arrangements which fall within the terms I claim: 1. In a treating table, a support, a stamovable leaf member journaled on said support so as to be movable angularly about a vertical axis, a second movable leaf member hingedat one end to the aforesaid movable leaf member so as to have capacity for angular movements about a horizontal axis, and yieldable means for supporting the free end of the second leaf member and permitting it to be yieldinglv swung about its hinge.

2. In a treating table, a support, a stationary leaf mounted on said support, a movable leaf member journaled on said support so as to be movable angularly abouta vertical axis, a second movable leaf member angular movements about a horizontal axis,

yieldable means for supporting the free end ofthe second leaf member and permitting it to be yieldingly swung about its hinge,

and a device associated with said yieldable means for locking it so as to hold said second leaf rigidly against movement about its hinge.

3. In a treating table, a supporting pedestal, a stationary leaf member secured upon said pedestal, a bracket journaled on said T pedestal so'as' to be movable angularly about employed in the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

a vertical axis a. leaf member mounted on said bracket and lying inthe plane ofthe stationary leaf, and a second leaf member hinged to the aforesaid leaf member so as "to be movable angularly-relative thereto about a horizontal axis.

4. In a treating-table, a support, aztable leaf mounted on said support, a movable leaf member journaled on said support so as to bemovable angularly about a vertical axis, a second movable leaf member mounted adjacent to one end of the aforesaid ileaff member so astohave capacity for'angular movements about a Ihorizontal: axis, and

yieldable means for supporting "thesecond movable leaf member so as to hold it'.normally in a predetermined position relative to said horizontal axisand at-the same time permitit to be yieldingly swung about said axis;

5. A treating table having its top composed of three leaf members arranged end to end, the intermediate leaf member and one of theend members "having-their adjacent edges curved in the are of a circle whose diameter is substantially-equal to'the width of the table, the intermediate leaf and theother end leaf being movable'about a vertical axis passing through thecenter of the said circle, and one of the end leaves being movable about a transversehorizontal axis through the center of the aforesaid circle;

6. In a treating'table, a'supporting pedestal, a table top on said pedestal, said top comprising three leaf members arranged end to'end, the intermediate leaf member and one of the end members having their meeting edges curved in the arc of-a circlejhaving a diameter approximately equal {to The Width of the table, and-means "for pivotally supporting the intermediate leaf and [the other end leaf on the pedestal so as to permit both to swing about a vertical axis passing through the center of the-aforesaid circle.

7. In a treating table, a support, a table top arranged above said support, said top comprising three leaf members arrangedend 'to end, the intermediate leaf and oneof the rectly connected by said hinged connections, said intermediate section adjacent to the main-table section being curved and fitting into a cooperating curved end of the main table section, meansfor permittingthe combinedzauxiliary and intermediate sections to move together in a lateral swingingmovement, and means for "supporting the said auxiliary table section in resilient suspension, in relation 'to both said intermediate and ma1n tablesect1ons 1 9."The combination in an osteopathic" tablevof a support, a main table-sectioncan ried thereby, an auxiliary table-section adapted'to form a continuation of the main table-sectioncarriedby-the support and having aiconnection therewith permitting of a swinging movementwof'the auxiliary tablesectiombothlaterallyiand vertically, in relation ,"t0 the main table-section, elastic means for resist ng adepressmg swinging .movement of: the auxiliary table-section, and

means for locking the auxiliary table-section against its-swinging movement in a lateral direction.

1 0. In an osteopathic table, the combination of a main table section'having a supporting ;mea=ns, an auxiliary table section associated With-the main table section and movable vertically and also laterally in opposite'directions, and-a resilient sustaining means for and at'an angle to the auxiliary table section shiftable from one fixed posi- 'tion to another in relation'to the latter.

1'1.Inanosteopathic'table, a main table section, an auxiliary table section movably associated therewith, and a spring sustaining'means for and disposedatan angle to the under sideof the auxiliarytable section having a variable position relatively to the ilat'ter.

12;In atreating table, a support, a leaf mounted on said support, a movable leaf member journaled on said support'so as to be movable'angularly about a vertical axls, a second movable'leaf member hinged at one endto the aforesaid movable leaf member so asto have capacity for angular move- .ments about a horizontal axis, yieldable means'for supportingthe free end of the second leaf member permitting it to be yieldingly swung about its hinge, and adevice associated with said .yieldable means for locking'it soas-to'hold said second leaf rigidly-against movement about its'hinge.

13. In .a treatingrtable, a supporting pedeStaL-a'Ieaf-member secured upon said pedestal, .a bracket .journaled on said pedestal so as'tofbe movable angularly about a vertical axis, "a second leaf member on said bracket and lying in the plane of the first mentioned leaf member, and a thirdleaf memberhinged to the second leaf member so v as to bemovable angularly relatively thereto about a horizontal :axis.

14. The combination with a main table section, of supporting means therefor, an auxiliary table section mounted normally in approximately the same plane as the main table section and serving as an extension or continuation thereof, and a combined intermediate table section and hinging device interposed between the auxiliary table section and the main table section and its support, whereby the auxiliary table section is articulated to be moved hingedly in relation to the main table section both vertically and laterally, and whereby the said main and auxiliary table sections in conjunction with the combined intermediate table section and hinging device will throughout all said vertical and lateral movements of the auxiliary table section present a substantially gapless table top.

15. In a treating table, a rigid supporting frame, a table top thereon, said table top being divided into two sections, one of said sections being pivoted on a vertical axis in relation to the other section so as to be capa ble of swinging in the plane of the sections comprising the table top, the adjacent ends of said table top sections being curved into arcs of circles having their common centers at the pivotal axis of the swinging section, and elastic means for resisting a depressing movement appliedto support the outer free end of the swinging section of the table top.

16. In a treating table, a rigid supporting frame. a table top thereon, said table top being divided into two sections, one of said sections being pivoted on a vertical axis in relation to the other section so as to be capable of swinging in the plane of the sections comprising the table top. the adiacent ends of both said table top sections being curved into arcs of circles having their common centers at the pivotal axis of the swinging section, said swinging section being divided into two parts hingedly connected on a transverse horizontal axis, and elastic means for resisting a depressing movement applied to support the outer free end of the swinging section of the table top from the rigid supporting frame.

17. In a treating table. a rigid supporting frame. a table top thereon. said table top being divided into two sections. one of said sections being pivoted between its ends on a vertical axis in relation to the other section, and variable means for sustaining the free end of the pivoted section, said means being interposed angularlv between the supporting frame and the pivoted section of the table top.

18. The combination with a main table section, of supporting means therefor, a combined auxiliary and intermediate table section consisting of two parts with a hinged connection therebetween. the parts being directly connected by said hinged connections,

said intermediate section adjacent to the main table section being curved and fitting into a cooperating curved end of the main table section, means for permitting the combined auxiliary and intermediate sections to move together in a lateral swinging movement, and resilient means for carrying the free end of the said auxiliary table section and permitting movement thereof both above and below the normal horizontal plane of both said intermediate and main table sections.

19. In a treating table, a supporting pedestal, a leaf member secured upon said pedestal, a bracket journaled on said pedestal so as to be movable angularly about a vertical axis, a second leaf member on said bracket and lying in the plane of the first mentioned leaf member, and a third leaf member hinged to the second leaf member so as to be movable angularly relatively thereto about a horizontal axis both above and below the normal horizontal plane of the leaves.

20. In a treating table having its top composed of three leaf members arranged end to end, the intermediate leaf member and one of the end members having their adjacent edges curved in the arc of a circle whose diameter is substantially equal to the width of the table, the intermediate leaf and the other end leaf being movable about a vertical axis passing through the center of the said circle, and one of the end leaves being movable both above and below the nor-- mal horizontal plane of the leaves about a transverse horizontal axis through the center of the aforesaid circle.

21. In an osteopathic table, the combination of a main table section having a supporting means. an auxiliary table section hingedly associated at one end with an end of the main table section and being movable at its free end vertically and also laterally in opposite directions, and a resilient sustaining means for and at an angle to the auxiliary table section, shiftable from one fixed position to another in relation to the latter.

22. The combination in an osteopathic table of a support, a main table section carried therebv, an auxiliary table section adapted to form a continuation of the main table section carried by the support and having a connection therewith permitting of a swinging movement of the auxiliary table section on both horizontal and vertical axes in relation to the main table section, elastic means for resisting a depressing swinging movement of the auxiliary table section, and means for locking the auxiliary table section against swinging movement in a lateral direction, but leaving it free to move in a vertical plane on its horizontal axis under the control of the said elastic means.

in relation to the main table section, elastic means for resisting a depressing swinging movement of the auxiliary table section, and means for lockingthe auxiliary table sec- I tion on said vertical axis in a plurality of adjusted positions in relation to the main table section and at the same time perniitting freedom of movement to said auxiliary table section in vertical planes on its horizontal axis under the control of said elastic means.

24'. The combination in an osteopathic table of a support, a table top arranged above said support, said top comprising three'leaf members arranged endto end, the intermediate leaf and one of the endleaves having their adjacent edges formed in the arc of a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the width of the table, means between the table top and the support for permitting the intermediate leaf member and the other leaf member to swing about a vertical axis passing through the center of said circle, means permittingone of theend members to be swung about a horizontal axis, spring means for sustaining said end member in a given position in relation to 1ts horizontal axis and resisting movement of said end member out of said position on its horizontal axis, and means for locking said intermediate and end members against-lateral movement about their common vertical axis.

25. The combination in an osteopathic table of a support, a table top arranged above said support, said top comprising three leaf members arranged end to end, the intermediate leaf and one of the end leaves having their adjacentedges'formed in the arc of a circle having a. diameter'substantially equal to the width of the table, means between the table top and the support for permitting the intermediate leaf member and the other leaf member to swing about a vertical axis passing through the center of said circle, means permitting one of the end members to be swung about a horizontal axis, spring means for sustaining said end member in a given position in relation to lateral movement-in a pl r l y of adjusted po'sitionson their common vertical axis and at-the-same time permitting freedom of vertical movement to said end member under control of said spring sustaining means.-

26. In a treating table, the combination with a support, of a main table section, and an auxiliary table section movably associated therewith and capable of being swung vertically and laterally in relation thereto, resilient sustaining means operable to assist in support of said leaf throughout its vertical and lateral swinging movements, and

means for locking the leaf in a plurality of positions of lateral adjustment on its vertical axis in relation to the main table section, said means at the same time permitting free vertical swinging movements of the leaf means for locking said auxiliary table section against lateral swinging movement on its vertical axis without interfering with the vertical swinging movements of said auxiliary table section, and without interfering with the normal action of the said resilient sustaining means on said auxiliary table section.

28. The combination in an osteopathic table of a main table section, an auxiliary table section being associated with said main table section and capable of being swung vertically and laterally, spring means for sustaining said auxiliary table section in a given position on its horizontal axis, and a device for locking said auxiliary table section in a given position in relation to the main table section to prevent lateral swinging movements thereof without interfering with the freedom of movement of said auxiliary table section on its horizontal axis and without modifying the action of the spring sustaining means on said auxiliary tablepedestal so" as-to be movable angularly about a vertical axis, a leaf member mounted on said bracket and lying in the plane of the stationary leaf, a second leaf member hinged to the aforesaid leaf member so as to be movable angularlyr'elativethereto about a horizontal axis, and means for locking said bracket in: a plurality ofadjusted positions to prevent angular movement thereof on its vertical axis in relation to said pedestal.

30. In an osteopathic table the combination of a main table section having a supporting means, an auxiliary table section associated with the main table section and movable vertically and also laterally in opposite directions, a resilient sustaining means for and at an angle to the auxiliary table section shiftable from one fixed position to another in relation to the latter, and means for locking the auxiliary table section against its swinging movement in a lateral direction without interfering with the capability of said auxiliary table section to move vertically and without varying the action of said resilient sustaining means in relation to the auxiliary table section.

81. The combination with a main table section, of a supporting means therefor, a combined auxiliary and intermediate table section consisting of two parts with ahinged connection therebetween, the parts being directly connected by said hinged connections, a bracket with which said intermediate table section is connected, said bracket having a vertical shiftable connection with said supporting means, said intermediate section adjacent to the main table section being curved and fitting into a cooperating curved end of the main table section, means for permitting the combined auxiliary and intermediate 1 sections to move together in a lateral swinging movement on the pivot of said bracket as an axis, means for locking said bracket in a plurality of adjusted positions in relation to the said table supporting means, and means for resiliently sustaining said auxiliary table section in a predetermined position on its hinged connection in relation to both said intermediate and main table sections.

32. In a treatment table, a main table section, an auxiliary table section oscillatable in a vertical direction and independently oscillatable in a horizontal direction, and means to lock said auxiliary section against oscillation horizontally leaving said auxiliary section free to be oscillated vertically.

In testimony whereof, I, sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER W. ALBRIGHT.

Witnesses:

WM. F. FREUDENREICH, RUBY V. Bmrncns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

